Welcome to Dissecting House: a blog dedicated to the television show House MD, where analytical reviews of season 8 episodes are posted weekly.

Tuesday, 7 February 2012

'Nobody's Fault' Episode Review

The hand writing on the wall

There has been serious buzz around this episode for at least the past
two weeks. Now I know why. The episode exudes Housian understanding and
adopts a non-formulaic style appropriate for such a huge character
centric plot. The episode opens with dramatic still shots of blood,
syringes, fallen flowers and balloons, giving us an eerie indication
that something has gone terribly wrong. The episode takes the format of a
trial, and in Kafkaesque form, we are in the dark about what happened
and the reason for the questioning. House is at risk of having his
parole revoked and being sent back to jail. Dr. Cofield is in charge of
House's fate and questions House's methods of differential diagnosis,
asking the team members whether his games are the cause of the
dramatic event with severe consequences. Notably Chase is missing during
this process. The story moves fluidly from past to present from person
to person.

Dr. Cofield says that "I know you'd like to make it
about me, because then it wouldn't be about you." House is usually very
extrovert and likes to be the centre of attention, but not when it comes
to his emotions. He will do anything to escape having to deal with how
he feels, especially when it concerns others.

The
initial POTW is a chemistry teacher who collapses during a run. Very
relevantly, he is admitted because of paralysis. As usual House
diagnoses with treatment and is aware that the patient could have a
psychotic break. However, Chase agrees with Adams and believes that a
biopsy of the patient's rash is necessary as it is the cause of his
condition. His decision is a key point of the episode. Did he defy House
to win a game, because that is the frame of mind they have become so
accustomed to? The POTW's paranoia is triggered by Adams's syringe and
he attacks Chase with a scalpal, slicing an artery in his heart and
almost killing him in an extremely tense and dramatic scene. Chase
survives but discovers that he is paralysed and may never walk again.

Lightheartedly
House paints himself in an angelic position of innocence, in a scene of
heavenly light because "good things usually happen, bad things
sometimes happen" and it is nobody's fault. However, House doesn't
really believe that no one is to blame. He doesn't blame his team and
they don't blame him (although more than once they say "He's not wrong"
instead of he's right, implying great results rather than method). House
blames himself. He tries to pretend he doesn't care but Chase explains
to Dr. Cofield that asking about the other patient while Chase is on the
brink of death and then paralysis is his way of checking on him without
admitting to it. It's an extremely poignant moment at the end of the
episode when House says "I'm sorry". I believe he's sorry about what
happened to him but I think he genuinely feels guilty that what happened
was his fault. Importantly, the games they play lead to the epiphany
House has about the diagnosis of the patient, "two explosions". The
chemistry explosion that caused the paralysis led to a second explosion
of tumorous cells. Chase was the one who rigged the Vicodin bottle. This
reflects the fact that unusual and unorthodox methods lead House to the
correct diagnosis.

It is interesting to note that the
episode really begins with House
looking in the mirror, reflecting about his role in this "fiasco". The
episode is shot in very dark
lighting to emphasize the dark and dramatic plot in an atomosphere which
is further created by heavy rain (sadness, tears). At the end the rain
stops and the trial room is flooded with
light and is empty, premptive of the notion that House is not sentenced
and so in essence it was nobody's fault. However, the team (minus Chase)
is there to support House. The patient's wife heavily influences the
verdict when she says that House was right about her husband. House
calls Dr. Cofield a coward, because he let his heart be softened by a
happy ending. There is no happy ending. Chase is left in an agony that
House can understand. In a role reversal House apologises while Chase
tells him he's busy, angry but not letting House believe it was all his
fault. They have a deep friendship and House knows how much Chase looks
up to him. House looks incredibly disappointed that he has hurt Chase,
and that Chase now suffers (leg pain, as House does) in such a
debilitating way.

It is extremely hard to choose specific
aspects of the episode to focus on because the entire episode was a
masterpiece. These are just some of the scenes that really stood out for
me. The emotion, the drama, the language, the slight threading of
humour into darkness which is incredibly difficult. Extremely well
written, directed and executed by the actors, especially Jesse Spencer
as Chase who really showed both physical and emotional pain. "None of
this is fun House". Best of the season so far in my opinion.

7 comments:

And this episode also perfectly illustrates why I hate spoilers. I thought when I watched it, that they had a hearing because the patient had died, but when I noticed that Chase wasn't asked in for questioning I began to suspect something else. And if I would have seen the promo I would probably have deduced it from that.

Btw I also loved the little scene where House accepted the case and you see the light + the ooooOOOhhs XD

Thank you, wow. I laughed out loud at that scene so I had to mention it. Completely agree with you about spoilers (as you know). The suspense and the development of the episode depend on the fact that we don't know why the trial is happening, including Chase's involvement.

Excellent synopsis. It was a true masterpiece. I thought House was being House with his self destructive button during the interview. But when he apologized to Chase, boy I never saw that coming. What a giant step that was for this character. You rarely see House apologize to those he has hurt like Wilson and Cuddy. I absolutely loved this epiosde

Hey there Steph! Great analysis, per usual - as I've said in the past, you're an excellent writer. It was an excellent ep in many ways: the plot, acting, directing, etc - this one was a definite "game -changer" for the entire life of the series and highly ironic in so, so many ways, but I must say I'm sorry Wilson had the "day off" LOL. There's just so much to analyze, i don't know where to even start, but you did such a good job, I don't need to!! Just to add - I nice send off for GY, who left off with his legendary "KABOOM" while leaving a definite mark on the series. Also, it's about time JS got a decent storyline beyond being a "womanizer" (zzzzzzz) - he deserves so much more. That last scene with him and Chase where H said those "3 words": "I am sorry" (FINALLY!!), seeing the pain and anguish on Chase's face, the whole irony that he might become a cripple just like his "reckless boss" - was all - legendary - the stuff that "House" was meant to be. So thank you for your wonderful review, it was a pleasure to read, and I look forward for more to come.

Thank you for your comments and kind words. With the news that House is ending with Season 8, this episode really made me think that even after 8 years the show is still incredibly high calibre. Greg Yaitanes leaving was for me another indication that the show was most likely coming to an end. He definitely left House MD with something to be proud of, you're right LaurieLuver. I think House saying "I'm sorry" has touched most fans. An outward indication that he cares is rare with House and seeing him think of another to such an extent was very touching.

I agree with everything you said. I also think it was really interesting how this ep provided a look at House's methods from an outsiders perspective. I think both the viewer and those around House have grown accustomed to his antics so when it has to be explained to someone else you realize just how "over the line" he is. Think the occasional ep with to an unrelated party who hold House to the same standard as everyone else are important for that reason. I also loved how House isn't trying to influence the verdict in his favor. He blames himself and so more importantly than his career or even his freedom he wants to know if he is to blame. It's so Housian to look for the answer/truth at the cost of everything else.